Depending on the number of teeth missing, a dentist may recommend bridges, crowns, inlays, onlays or fillings. There are also dental implants, which work great for people without any teeth. As a permanent solution, patients never have to worry about problems going forward. A dental bridge is a possibility as well.
Here are some of the problems that missing teeth can cause:
Poor jaw function/Creating malocclusions. Drifting teeth move into unoccupied spaces. Bite alignment issues; teeth wear/jaw stress. Jaw bone loss (up to a 25% reduction in the first year)
While some may worry more about a highly visible missing tooth (like a front tooth), the serious consequences of a missing tooth — including an increased risk of decay, a negative impact on eating and speaking, and possible bone loss — will impact an individual no matter where the missing tooth is.
Dental implants are by far the most durable and functionally superior option for people who want to replace their missing teeth.
The procedure for extracting multiple teeth at once is a bit more complicated than a simple single tooth extraction. You can live without one or two teeth without major consequences, but losing several teeth at once requires the jawbone to be reshaped to prepare for a dental bridge or dentures.
An implant is a great way to replace a missing tooth. This solution feels and acts the most like a natural tooth when chewing, brushing or smiling. The implant replaces the actual root of the missing tooth and heals in the bone for several months.
Tooth loss does more than impact the appeal of your smile, especially if you lose your front tooth. It affects your ability to eat and chew properly, as well as how you communicate. It may also lead to confidence issues and low self-esteem.
Feeling embarrassed by missing teeth is very common, but even if you're missing one, two, or more teeth, you're absolutely not alone.
Ideally, you should address the problem of missing teeth as soon as possible. If you have extractions done, you should wait no more than four to six months to replace the missing teeth. This will give your gums time to heal, but still, be soon enough that you don't have to worry about your teeth shifting.
Teeth are crucial for many reasons, not the least of them is chewing and speaking. Missing teeth affect your ability to consume food and the shape of your face and your jawline. It can cause jawbone loss and facial collapse. Not only that, but it's emotionally hard and painful to have missing teeth.
Unless the empty place left by your missing molar is filled with a denture or implant, the surrounding teeth can shift and become misaligned. Misaligned teeth cause more than a cosmetic headache. They also increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, occlusion issues, and additional tooth loss.
When do kids lose their first tooth? Children usually lose their first tooth around 5 or 6 years old. But every child is unique. Some will lose their first tooth as early as 4 years old or as late as 7 years old.
Complete dentures replace all of the natural teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. Ideally, they look just like natural teeth and allow you to chew and speak normally again. Complete dentures are usually made entirely of plastic. The key to properly fitted complete dentures is a good match to the jaw.
The surgery itself should not involve any pain since the mouth will be numbed. As the numbness wears off, though, patients will often feel some level of pain. Many dental professionals provide pain medication to help manage discomfort at the implant site.
Genetic factors cause congenitally missing teeth and this condition is often seen in generations of a family. The most common missing teeth are wisdom teeth, upper lateral incisors, and second premolars/bicuspids.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
What is the most difficult tooth to extract? Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth that have failed to erupt properly. They are generally considered to be the most difficult teeth to extract. The higher the degree of impaction, the more difficult the extraction.
Summary. Wisdom teeth can come anytime between the ages of 17 and 25 and even well into your late 20s. You should+n't expect to see your wisdom teeth come past the age of 30, as this is highly uncommon. Some people experience issues with their wisdom teeth when they come in and need an extraction.
Frank Medina, otherwise known as the "King of Windmills," has never had a cavity in his life. That would not be so unusual, except that he is 94 years old. Ripley's Believe it or Not calls him the “oldest man in the world with all his teeth who has never had a cavity."
In all these cases, researchers concluded that depression and anxiety were related to tooth loss. Poor self confidence, poor diet and pain are often the unfortunate consequences of tooth loss that can result in depression.
With modern treatment options, it is never too late to address a missing tooth. Of course, because your smile can be affected by how long a missing tooth goes untreated, sooner is always better than later.